To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what amendments have been made to, and what recent representations he has received on, the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. (189013)

Section 2(4)(c) of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 is amended by paragraph 21 of schedule 7 to the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007. This amendment replaces the reference to the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council with a reference to the National Consumer Council.

Section 2(9) of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 is repealed by schedule 8 to the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007. Section 2(9) is concerned with the period before the commencement of section 3(1) of the Utilities Act 2000. As section 3(1) of the Utilities Act came into force on 20 December 2000, section 2(9) is repealed as it is no longer necessary.

These amendments are due to come into force later this year.

We have received a letter from Friends of the Earth which broadly relates to the duties placed upon the Secretary of State in the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. Friends of the Earth has indicated that it will decide whether it will apply for judicial review on receipt of the Government’s response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what (a) statutory instruments, (b) departmental circulars and (c) other documents he (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequent on the provisions of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; what action is required in respect of each; and if he will make a statement. (189014)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued no statutory instruments under the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 and has no plans to issue any over the next 12 months.

The Government have issued annual progress reports on the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy since 2002. The next report will be published within the next 12 months.

The Department issues a fuel poverty newsletter, usually at six-monthly intervals. The newsletter is available on the Department’s website and covers the action taken by a range of stakeholders on fuel poverty.